Catalonia beset by divided loyalties in protest aftermath

She cried when she saw the information, he should rarely agree with what he was watching.
Right here in twenty first century spain, police have been beating people for looking to preserve a vote.
In no way thoughts that ana didn't flip out herself for a ballot  she believes changed into unlawful in her liked spain.
Never mind that xavier had already made up his mind to break faraway from the very equal spain.
Like many others, both are deeply disillusioned approximately the violence on the polling stations.
At the least, though, they've the consolation of being madly in love with each other.
Rajoy's contribution
On laietana street, there is no love misplaced for the police many of the protesters.


Media captionprotesting catalan scholar mauro castro soler
"spanish murderers!" they chant on the building marked with a furled spanish flag that looks lonely against the catalan flags on close by partitions.
The building is covered by using a line of catalan insurrection police and vehicles.
One guy all however shoves an "anti-fascist" flag into the face of a policeman, like a pink rag to a bull.
The bull would not react, though the 2 facets are so close, you could believe they odor each other's breath, in addition to the heady fumes of something it is humans are smoking in the crowd.
Spanish national law enforcement officials stand outdoor their hotel as they face locals protesting against their presence in pineda de mar, north of barcelona (03 october 2017)photograph copyrightreuters
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Many in catalonia are specially angry with spanish police officers
People shout all through a protest outdoor the principle police station in barcelona (03 october 2017)photo copyrightreuters
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There may be shock that police have been used in opposition to people for seeking to keep a vote
It's 24 hours after the referendum and loads of hyper-young protesters are jubilantly occupying the street outdoor the barcelona headquarters of spain's country wide police.
They may be on a roll wrapped of their lone-celebrity catalan insurrection flags, yelling up at the home windows, worrying spanish top minister mariano rajoy takes his 10,000-atypical more cops out of catalonia.
"when they're long past, we will flip the building right into a library!" one younger guy tells me with a grin.
A girl cries at some stage in a tribute out of doors a school which acted as polling station in the referendum and became eventually raided by way of the authorities (03 october 2017)photograph copyrightgetty pix
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Activities on sunday have left many people traumatised
Thru the balaclavas, it is tough to tell how the catalan insurrection police are taking all this, protective their spanish comrades from a adversarial crowd, but their helmets hang unused from their belts in conjunction with the truncheons and pistols.
The only things being thrown this night are paper planes which come down like volleys of toy darts at the police and their trucks, to gales of victorious laughter from the group.
On sunday, in a single catalan metropolis (carles de la rapita), there has been a specially bloody conflict outdoor a polling station, and stones were hurled at spanish police cars.
"if you'd asked me three or four years ago, i would probable have said independence became no longer the proper manner - it doesn't matter to me what is on the flag," says one of these on the barcelona protest, 23-year-vintage yes voter jo, who would not need to provide his full call.
"but each day now, simple rights are being violated. While we ask for extra self-government, they best send police to beat old humans and youngsters.
"in the beyond  weeks, spain did extra for catalan independence than the catalans within the beyond 10 years because in case you factor a gun at people they sense below assault, and in the event that they sense below attack, it's logical that they won't want to stay with you.
"if we turn out to be unbiased tomorrow, i can congratulate mariano rajoy because he has finished extra than most to carry it about."
Traumatic days
In a restaurant throughout metropolis, xavier querol, 25, wants to make something very clear.
Xavier querol and ana jorques
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Xavier and ana communicate both catalan and spanish
"it's no longer a combat," he says. "we don't have an awesome aspect and a terrible facet - both aspects are right. Human beings are irritated and disgusted however we are not combating each different - that is all politics.
"sunday became a disgrace and a shock. I recognise spanish those who say they feel ashamed to be spanish, however we nevertheless talk. It is the politicians who won't communicate."
However his girlfriend ana jorques, 20, has observed how the mood amongst a few businesses of spanish and catalan pals in barcelona has soured.
"i am spanish and there are catalans who think that i'm terrible man or woman after what passed off on sunday," she says.
There does have a tendency to be extra arguing, xavier has the same opinion. "when they see the images of police preventing vintage humans and kids, human beings get careworn and blame folks that feel spanish."
"i love and respect the police," says ana. "they have been doing their process. They have got a chairman and that they have to do what the boss says, but they didn't behave successfully."
When xavier saw the images on television he says it felt like he become looking at a document from another u . S . A ., not spain.
"i might instead stay in spain than see this occur again," he says.
Swapping stereotypes
He didn't vote due to the fact he couldn't down load the referendum app (banned through a courtroom order) and by the point he located his polling station, the large queue intended he had neglected his chance.
Fireplace opponents keep up their arms for the duration of an indication known as to protest towards police actions at some point of the banned independence referendum in barcelona (03 october 2017)photograph copyrightreuters
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Fire fighters in barcelona took element in monday's protests
"i don't agree with politicians however i am spanish and need to stay in spain," says ana.
So what does she think of catalans?
"properly, this is a superb catalan," she says with a smile, gesturing toward xavier, who is tickled crimson.
However it's now not smooth for her, she adds, to pay attention catalans name spain a "u . S . A . Complete of corruption".
So spaniards by no means say mean matters about catalans? They sure do. A not unusual view is that they're moaners who don't know how properly off they may be, she says.
"and there's corruption in catalonia too," ana points out.
However independence would suggest a sparkling begin, xavier believes. "i'm not indignant with the spanish human beings, but i want to pick out my personal future."
In his view, spain is ruled through the equal small group of people who have been in power underneath the franco dictatorship.
'they may be both loopy'
It's genuine mr rajoy's famous celebration has its roots in the franco establishment but, forty years on, can a democratically elected spanish authorities actually behave like franco?
Human beings protest at the college ramon llull in barcelona throughout a widespread strike (03 october 2017)photo copyrightepa
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Massive numbers of people took part in protests in opposition to police violence on monday
People stand round poll containers during a tribute outside a school which acted as polling station inside the referendum and become ultimately raided, at some stage in a local standard strike to protest in opposition to the violence that marred sunday's referendum vote (03 october 2017)image copyrightgetty photos
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Ballot  boxes used in sunday's vote had been put on display in diverse components of barcelona
"absolutely!" says josep, 86, a catalan who grew up beneath the old regime earlier than migrating to germany for paintings.
Returned dwelling in barcelona once more, he has discovered his night stroll along with his daughter maria (additionally they don't want to provide their full names) interrupted by using the demo at the police headquarters.
"both facets are loopy," he says.
The daddy and daughter may be proud catalans, but they see their destiny internal spain - "best now not with rajoy", josep provides. Perhaps spain should undertake a federal structure like in germany? He suggests.
Maria says she feels both catalan and spanish and "it is usually higher together", and she or he is worried approximately catalan radicalism.
She tried to vote no on sunday however her detailed polling station have been close down.
The police's use of pressure can have swayed extra human beings toward independence, she thinks, leaving the destiny even extra unsure.
"following orders is one aspect, however the use of violence in which there's no violence is immoderate," maria says. "human beings have been only demonstrating that they desired to vote."